Minimum Efficiency Report, or MERV, values report a filter's ability to capture larger particles between 0.3 and 10 microns (µm). If you're looking to understand what a MERV rating is and how it can affect your home's air quality, you've come to the right place. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Report Value and it lets people know how efficiently an air filter can work to remove contaminants from their home. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) designed MERV to make it easier for people to purchase air filters. A higher rating means that the filter can trap smaller air particles.
For example, if you have someone in your household who suffers from allergies, you may want a higher MERV rating. Before buying a new oven filter, be sure to check if your HVAC system has a maximum MERV rating. This rating is more efficient than MERV 8 and 11 with the ability to filter even more allergens from the air. Filters with higher MERV ratings generally have a denser filter material, which means more force is required to push air through the filter. Filter technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, and MERV ratings are designed to help us determine the most effective and efficient air filter options for heating and cooling systems and more.
You can also find the Microparticle Performance Rating (MPR) system, which ranges from 300 to 2200 and measures the effectiveness of a filter in trapping only the smallest particles on the MERV scale (0.3-1 microns in size). Well, MERV ratings range from 1 to 20, with 1 being the lowest level of filtration and 20 being the highest. Before choosing an air filter for your heating and air conditioning, ask a professional which MERV rating will keep it running well and maximize your comfort. However, this depends on the MERV rating you choose for your home, along with a couple of other factors. A filter with a MERV rating between 1 and 6 can remove particles between 0.3 and 10 microns with an efficiency of 20%.
Nor will it put additional pressure on your oven, since the mesh of the material is not as dense as a higher MERV rating. Factors such as the amount of airflow your system requires, if you have pets, and if a family member has severe allergies will determine which MERV rating you will need. Selecting the right MERV rating for your air filter is a delicate balance between the capabilities of your HVAC system and the indoor air quality you want to have. The type of MERV rating isn't the only thing you need to consider when maintaining your HVAC system. While you may automatically think that a higher MERV rating means a better air filter, that's not always the case. You'll probably never need to use those filters at the top of the MERV sorting list, but whenever you take a pill or turn on your computer, you benefit from their filtering capabilities.
